Season’s Greetings, northshore! I’m so excited to welcome the month of December and all the festivities that come along this time of year. Like many of us, I love the holidays and the spirit of the season that fills the air. The sights and sounds of the holidays evoke memories of Christmases past and inspire me to fill these next few weeks with holiday filled activities, to ensure more happy memories made with my family and friends.
The northshore provides me again this year with every opportunity to embrace the season and participate in an array of events sure to bring on that warm and fuzzy feeling I associate with December. With all the hustle and bustle, it will be impossible to do it all, but I’m going to give it my best try.
There’s no better way to get yourself in the spirit of the season than by listening to Christmas music! The St. Timothy United Methodist Church Choir will perform their annual concert, Christmas on the Northshore, December 13 and 14. The performance has become a tradition for many northshore residents and is always superb. However, the last few years, in addition to welcoming the community to one of the best holiday performances around, they have also invited the Northshore Children’s Chorus to perform. My daughter is a member of this incredibly talented group of children. NCC, under the direction of Mrs. Eleanor Miller, provides the children of the northshore with expert instruction in voice and knowledge of choral music. St Timothy’s provides them the acoustically pleasing venue for their voices to be heard. NCC is an impressive group of musically gifted kids and they have been so warmly welcomed by the seasoned and experienced musicians on the northshore.
In addition to the performance at St. Timothy’s, the Northshore Children’s Chorus has been graciously invited to perform with NPAS this holiday season as well. The award-winning Northlake Performing Arts Society Chorale has been singing seasonally for 14 years. Their reputation is outstanding and they continue attracting some of the best voices on the northshore. This year’s performance is entitled “Gloria”. It is one show only, Sunday December 20 from 3:00- 5:00 at the Fuhrman Auditorium-Greater Covington Center. The children of NCC are practicing for the trip of a lifetime this spring to perform at Carnegie Hall. These holiday performances with such seasoned musicians as the UMC and NPAS choirs will help them prepare tremendously.
What would the holidays be without squeezing in a little shopping? I am not an avid shopper, nor do I enjoy the shopping frenzy of crowded malls at Christmastime. So, I make sure my time is spent wisely with this endeavor, in addition to my dollars. I go with a list and I knock it out in a day or two. This year, I will return to Covington for Christmas in the Country. The merchants of downtown Covington will have special events, music and extended hours. There are new shops downtown that I have yet to visit, along with a few old favorites. It’s close to home, no overwhelming crowds, and that sales tax revenue goes right back into our own northshore economy. Christmas in the Country is every weekend through Christmas. And if you really want to have some holiday cheer while you’re making your list and checking it twice, bring some friends and participate in Covington’s Mimosa Stroll. Shop Lee Lane while greeted with mimosas from the participating merchants, along with money saving coupons and prize giveaways. Call 892-1811 to register and for details for the Mimosa Stroll. That’s my kind of shopping!
Some of the happiest memories made this time of year are the ones shared with our children. To see the magic and miracle of the holidays through the eyes of a child brings out the kid in all of us. My children get so excited each year when they see that first glimpse of twinkling lights adorning someone’s home decorated for the season. The larger light displays throughout the area never disappoint. Again this year, our tradition will continue of attending and driving through (usually more than once…) the Holiday of Lights at Koop Drive. It is a beautiful event to bring the whole family to. Another Christmas display well worth the visit is the City of Slidell’s Christmas Under The Stars. From December 10-13 in Griffith Park, there is entertainment, decorations, story telling and visits from Santa.
This seasonal event in Old Mandeville captures a little bit of those Christmases from long ago. The Christmas Past Festival is December 12 from 9:00-4:00. Girod is closed to traffic so pedestrians can stroll the street, and horse-drawn carriage rides will be available along Lakeshore Drive. There’s food, drink, art, music and hands-on activities for kids. The festival is followed immediately by the Winter On The Water event from 4:00-7:00 with lights along the lake, a holiday boat parade and entertainment.
Whatever you choose to do this holiday season, whether it’s holiday happy hours with co-workers, long-awaited vacations visiting family far away or just snuggling on the sofa in front of the tree- I wish you a safe, blessed, holiday enjoying timeless traditions and making lasting memories surrounded by the people you love.